The American Horse Defense Fund is sponsoring a National Capitol Hill Day for Horses on March 7. Citizen lobbyists will be meeting with their legislators in Washington, D.C. on behalf of two important horse slaughter bills: H.R. 297 and H.R. 503. It will be a perfect time to make calls to your own federal legislators and urge them to support both of these important bills.

Reps. Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Ed Whitfield (R-KY) have introduced H.R. 297, a powerful bill that restores protection from slaughter for wild horses and burros. That protection was stripped last year in the 2005 Omnibus Spending Bill.

Reps. John Sweeney (R-NY), John Spratt, Jr. (D-SC) and Ed Whitfield (R-KY) introduced the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503), to prohibit the transport, possession, purchase, or sale of horses to be slaughtered for human consumption. Many horses, whether former companions or racers, face the agony of slaughter for food.

Make March 7 your day of action for horses: Ask your U.S. representative to co-sponsor H.R. 297 and H.R. 503. If he or she is already co-sponsoring these bills, express your thanks. And please ask your senators to support similar measures in the Senate.